{"id":1503,"date":"2012-11-14T00:00:55","date_gmt":"2012-11-14T05:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1503"},"modified":"2012-11-13T18:43:54","modified_gmt":"2012-11-13T23:43:54","slug":"winter-chapter-25-05","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1503","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 25 – 05"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan\u2019s fingers flexed around the wood in his hands as he drove the butt of his staff into the chill-hardened earth in front of him at the heart of the gap in the walls.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019d make their stand here and he could only hope that they\u2019d be able to make the damned firbolg think better of bothering them again.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Another moment when I don\u2019t have time to explain exactly what we\u2019re going up against. They must think I do this shit on purpose.\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t, but I wouldn\u2019t blame them for thinking that I do.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow do we kill it?\u201d Thom asked in a low voice, standing near his elbow.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan barely smothered a wince.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAre you hiding any gasoline anywhere?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan asked.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe had to use Greek Fire the last time I went toe to toe with one and there was a big question about whether or not that would work.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom winced.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s left is out in all the damn cars out there,\u201d he muttered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd I\u2019m not sure how much there was in the first place.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s what I thought,\u201d Phelan said.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou don\u2019t need the gasoline,\u201d Rory said as he came up on the other side of Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019ve got me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Just tell me what I need to do.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan winced.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cToo dangerous.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Rory\u2019s voice was quiet as he stared off in the direction of their oncoming hostile visitor.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAll of this is too dangerous.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What matters is that most of us survive this and that thing goes away and never comes back.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow far out is it?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline asked from behind them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan spun, blinking.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI thought you were with\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe told me that you\u2019d need me out here more than she\u2019d need me in there.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She was dressed in her jeans and light jacket, her satchel of herbs slung across her body and resting against one hip.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom glanced between the two, a frown growing.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan held up a hand.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAsk after this is over,\u201d he said, eyes narrowing as he peered at Jacqueline.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t be here.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBecause I\u2019m going to tell prophet among us that I\u2019m not going to listen to what she\u2019s telling me I need to do.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s real smart.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Because <\/span>not<\/span><\/em> listening to her has worked out <\/span>so<\/span><\/em> well in the past.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline planted one hand on her hip and jerked her chin toward the gap beyond Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s out there that we\u2019re waiting for to show up here?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSomething big and ugly,\u201d Greg said as he took a shotgun from Paul, who was starting to hand them out.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cVery big, very ugly, and very <\/span>mean<\/span><\/em>,\u201d Phelan growled.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGet up in the watchtower and don\u2019t come down until Thom or I tell you to.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 Don\u2019t want her here period, but I\u2019m not getting a vote.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI mean it, Jac.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. can handle us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNot if something happens to him.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline turned and headed for the watchtower, scrambling up its ladder and heading toward the rail.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She squinted and then a heartfelt oath crossed her lips.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou weren\u2019t kidding.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s ugly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>And <\/span>big<\/span><\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan winced and turned away.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He leaned against his staff and swallowed hard, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment as he struggled to find the very core of his being, the place where his magic dwelt.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Settle down,<\/em><\/span> he warned himself silently.<\/span>\u00a0 Panic won\u2019t do you any good.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>He heard a soft crackling sound next to him\u2014Rory, gathering his own power.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan took a deep breath, nose itching at the scent of brimstone and burning leaves.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Focus.
\n<\/em><\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m coming for you, Wandering One!\u201d the deep, guttural voice called, all pretense at rhyme and song gone.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m coming for you and yours!<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Justice will be mine!\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s what he thinks,\u201d Phelan growled, feeling his limbs begin to tingle.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The power of the nearby lines, the nearby nexus began to answer his call, welling up through the staff driven into the ground.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He swallowed bile that suddenly crept up in his throat.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It was more power than he\u2019d suspected.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>No wonder there\u2019s so many of them here.\u00a0 <\/span>No wonder everyone wants this place.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He took a deep breath and then eased forward, every hair standing on end, aware of the leaf-green light that coiled around his forearms and wreathed his hands.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m ready for you!\u201d he roared at the firbolg.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCome on and get me!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Phelan\u2019s fingers flexed around the wood in his hands as he drove the butt of his staff into the chill-hardened earth in front of him at the heart of the gap in the walls.\u00a0 They\u2019d make their stand here … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,64,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-25","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-of","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1503"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1504,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1503\/revisions\/1504"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}